Dream is over, reality time for Bangladesh

St Peter's, Antigua, Apr 3: Having squeezed into the Elite Super Eight league by showing exit doors to their neighbours, Bangladesh now is facing the reality check.

The surprise qualifiers are looking totally out of place in Super Eights and have so far suffered two heavy defeats at the hands of Australia and New Zealand.

Commenting on his team's slum show in the second round of the mega event, Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar said, ''We have been making the same mistakes again and again and I hope we don't repeat the same mistake in the rest of the matches.'' ''The team plan was not to lose too many early wickets. The wicket was good for batting. If one of the top four batsmen can bat until the 40 or 45 overs then I'm sure we can do better,'' Bashar told reporters after the match.

The Tigers still have four more matches in hand and are already in a dilemma as how to play in their remaining matches.

''We need to do something in between. It has been either too much attacking or too much blocking,'' the skipper said.

Bangladesh face title contender South Africa in Guyana on Saturday and Bashar was candid enough to admit the lack of confidence in the team after the two consecutive defeats.

''Definitely the confidence will be down, but it is important to put up a good show to get that back.'' The bravado, that they deserved to be here, not withstanding, Bashar's men have suddenly become lambs ready for slaughter by the rival teams.

The two defeats have rattled them and they are looking bewildered and demoralized.

After receiving a ten-wicket drubbing from defending champion Australia in their earlier match, Bangladesh suffered yet another humiliating defeat last evening, when the Kiwis outplayed them by nine-wickets.

UNI